Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter series. That glorious honour belongs to JK Rowling.

A/N: My sincerest apologies for the prolonged delay. Enjoy what I know is a short chapter but is a necessary one.

11: Decisions

Anyone could guess the topic of discussion on everyone's lips. It was, of course, the vacancy at the Ministry of Magic in the most important position in the government of the country. Speculation was widespread as to who would take the place and many looked towards the current interim Minister in Percy Weasley. The Daily Prophet, however, reported differently. A relatively unknown Ministry official by the name of Daniel Lowry was declared as the favourite by the Prophet.He was blazing a trail of support as he travelled the nation making speeches about how he wanted to change things for the better and make it a better world for the people to live in. The people would vote in less than two weeks between the two candidates. The question that everyone was asking was 'who will win?' and all those that were of age were asking each other 'who are you going to vote for?'. Albus hoped that Percy would win. While Percy wasn't his favourite uncle the amount of effort he put into his work was unquestionable.

Classes were almost overshadowed by the upcoming elections. They went ahead as normal but some of the teachers were distracted. Albus was more than happy when the two weeks had passed and the Friday had come. They had no classes the day of the elections because the older students that could vote and the teachers had to return to their home address to cast their vote. The school was eerily empty and quiet as Albus, Scorpius and Luke wandered the halls, making their way up the stairs towards the seventh floor. The door appeared in the stone wall and Scorpius pulled it open. The trio entered the room of requirement. It was quite small and empty. In the far corner was a ladder leading up to a ledge. Scorpius was first up and he pulled back a painting revealing a tunnel. Scorpius stepped into it and Luke and Albus followed suit. "You got the cloak?" Scorpius called back to Albus.

"For about the hundredth time, yes I have the cloak" Albus replied, walking the narrow pathway and bringing up the rear of the three.

"What's gonna happen if we get caught?" Luke asked.

"You don't have to worry about that Lukey. We won't be caught getting caught" Scorpius replied. Luke sighed. Scorpius was the only person that ever called him Lukey. They continued walking, the tunnel twisting and turning, going up and down in places and then, after what seemed like an age, they finally reached the end. Scorpius turned around and faced the pair as they both put out their wands. He raised his finger to his lips as Albus took out the cloak. The three huddled together and Albus threw the Invisibility Cloak over them. They walked very slowly, pushing the painting in front of them open just enough for the trio to squeeze through. They slowly shut the hinged painting and walked out of the dark and dusty room. They crept slowly, not making any noise and managed to get up the stairs and out of the underground house. Hogsmeade was quiet and there were only a handful of people milling around the village. It was easy for them to go unnoticed through the wet and windy village without being seen, making their way towards the mountainous area that acted as a border to the village. Scorpius led Albus and Luke up the side of the mountain and they entered the same cave they had been in a few weeks previous. Finn was standing there waiting and greeted each of them with a hug.

"Good to see again" Albus said being the last to enter the warm and dry cave. It was somewhat cosy.

"You weren't seen or anything?" Finn asked.

"I don't think so" Luke replied.

"We had the Invisibility Cloak" Scorpius informed him.

"Good… I heard about the Minister dying. I think it's a coincidence but it's exactly what they want" Finn said.

"The S.o.D" Albus said.

"Exactly. They know that sometimes the easiest way to over throw a government is from within. They now have the chance to get their man as Minister. Who's in the running?" Finn asked.

"Percy Weasley and some Daniel Lowry guy" Scorpius said.

"They talked about it at one of their meetings. Shacklebolt had picked his own successor and they were fuming that they couldn't get their man in. They wanted this. They want certain people out of the way. Top of that list was the Minister for Magic because if they got the Minister out of the way then they could get rid of anyone else with power that they didn't want in their position. And Al, I have a feeling that your father is going to be the first man fired if indeed Lowry is their guy and if he comes to power. Because your dad won't be paid off, he will work for justice. He will do his job and that's it. They'll never get him on their side." Finn told them.

"Do you think Lowry is their guy?" Albus asked.

"Any of you got a picture of him?" Finn asked. "I might recognise him if he's real important"

Scorpius fished into his jeans pocket and pulled out a folded sheet. "I thought you might want to see it" Scorpius said as he handed it to Finn. Finn ran a hand through his hair, ruffling it as he looked at the picture. Finn didn't speak. With his hand shaking, he handed the piece of paper back to Scorpius. Finn ran his hand down his face and exhaled. "You recognise him?"

"Yeah" Finn replied. "I'm pretty sure I've seen him before"

Things suddenly began to click for Albus. The minster's death surely couldn't be a simple coincidence. This group has been slowly resurfacing for months, years and they need to get someone into a high position in government. This opportunity arises and their man is favourite to be elected Minister. "This can't all be a fortunate coincidence. It's worked out all too well for them"

"I've been thinking the same thing Al but the Minister died of natural causes according to St Mungo's and your uncle is just getting straight up beat in debates and all that election stuff" Scorpius said.

"And I'm not saying it's definitely one of their guys but I'm pretty sure it is. We'll see if he gets elected and what he does then. And look, I'd love for ye to stay but I think ye should go. It's getting late and the three of you can't miss dinner or people will get suspicious." Finn told them.

"Okay." Albus said. "Thanks for everything Finn. Take care"

The boys exchanged their goodbyes and departed the cave. Albus threw the Invisibility Cloak over the three boys and they made their way down the slope and to the outskirts of the village. Finn stood watching as the boys crept their way slowly through the village and back to the secret passage way. They quietly pulled the painting closed behind them and began their walk back up the tunnel towards Hogwarts. They talked quietly as they walked and then, as the tunnel took a sudden turn upwards, they began breathing heavier and the conversation ceased, the trio concentrating on making it up the steep slope and back to Hogwarts. The ground levelled out once more and conversation about their discussion in the cave resumed. The favourite in the race to be next Minister for Manager came out of left field. When they considered what Finn had said it made perfect sense. Perhaps this Lowry was groomed for the position and he's a mere puppet, his strings being pulled by much more powerful men. Albus just hoped that the appeal of the fresh new kid on the block would not be enough to garner more votes than the battle hardened and industrious manner of Percy Weasley.

Saturday morning arrived with the results of the previous day's election. The news of the new Minister spread like wildfire. Albus didn't even need to look at a newspaper to know that the popular figure, particularly among the students, Daniel Lowry had been elected. Albus saw the man on the front of the paper, smiling brightly at a podium. Albus guessed that the picture was taken during his victory speech.

Daniel Lowry's face was plastered over several pages of the Daily Prophetand Albus was disappointed. He had bitterly hoped that his uncle would win. While Percy wasn't Albus' favourite uncle by any stretch, he was still family and he would always support his family no matter what.

The weekend seemed to crawl by and Albus was sick of hearing about the new Minister, particularly with his new suspicions about him, and hoped that Monday would arrive and they could just get back to classes and take the attention away from the breaking news.

Monday finally came and Albus was more than happy to hear conversations about various classes and he himself joined with his friends talking about the day's classes as well as what was coming. Potions was definitely the most interesting as Professor Kelly had them brew the quickest potion he knew. It was supposed to take only fifteen minutes but two students ended up blowing their cauldrons to pieces and plastering the walls with their concoctions. One of the students was Luke who somehow managed to add horn of unicorn instead of that of a bicorn, the unicorn horn being much more explosive. The other, Albus could say happily, was Alex Noone. What exactly he did wrong Albus didn't know but he was more than happy to see the slippery green mess all over the Gryffindor half of the room. Luke's explosion came first, closely followed by Noone's and Albus couldn't help but laugh.

The rest of November passed without any notable events and the Christmas exams suddenly loomed closer than ever. December had come and now the teachers began to talk of the impending tests. This talk was ended the first Friday evening of the month. Professor Wincanton stood up and looked over the students. It took only a couple of seconds for them to fall silent. "I must have forgotten to mention this but I have made a decision to experiment with this academic year. The Christmas examinations will take place after the Christmas break, beginning on the Wednesday you all return and ending the Friday of the following week. This is just my curious self wondering whether the time of the examinations help or hinders the students. Just as a side note, the third round of the Quidditch Championship takes place on Sunday and will then be on hiatus until February. Enjoy" the headmaster said, finishing with a smile before stepping around the podium, off the dais and striding, cloaks billowing behind him, through the middle aisle of the Great Hall and out of the huge dining area.

With the relieving announcement, the students were returned to normal schoolwork while many of the teachers were unsure whether or not to continue teaching new material or continue to revise for the after Christmas examinations. Many of the teachers sided with the option of teaching new material and Albus was actually happy to be learning, all the attention taken away from his suspicions of the new Minister. That, however, was much more difficult said than done.

Albus was eating his breakfast, considering the upcoming Quidditch match. The Daily Prophet arrived as it did every other morning of the week. A hushed whisper descended over the Great Hall and Albus looked towards Scorpius, waiting for him to unfurl his copy of the paper. The minute he did Albus knew what was on everyone's lips. He read the headline.

NEW MINISTER SACKS POTTER

Albus didn't need to read anymore. He had been warned that this could be coming but now that it had come, he was in shock. Scorpius began to read the article. "While nothing has yet been confirmed, the Prophet's sources have informed us that the new Minster for Magic Daniel Lowry met with 'The Boy Who Lived' earlier this afternoon (Friday) and informed the legendary figure that his services would no longer be needed with his contract being officially terminated on Monday. Reports suggest that Potter's right hand man Ronald Weasley has also been terminated. The same source has also said that John Wilson will take over on an interim basis until the new year when a new Head Auror will be appointed on a permanent contract. Neither the office of the Minister for Magic nor the office of the Head Auror were available for comment at this time. More reports to follow…"

Scorpius looked up at Albus. He was silent. Luke was silent. Scorpius continued to read the paper. Albus was in shock still and it was only when Ashley tapped him on the shoulder did he return mentally to the Great Hall.

"We gotta go" Ashley said to him. "Game is starting in twenty five minutes"

"Huh? What?" Albus asked, confused. "Oh right yeah, many left to go down?"

"Just the three of us and Tony. The other three are already on their way down"

Albus got out of his seat and tried to return his focus to the impending game. He joined Ashley, Scorpius and Tony but lingered behind them as they walked.

Twenty minutes later and the balls were thrown in, Albus watched from high above the field of play, his opposite number much lower, below the main players. The snitch wasn't seen until fifteen minutes into the game. Albus had finally got his head right and with Slytherin well ahead, Albus stretched the lead for the green and silver easily taking the Snitch. He didn't celebrate. He got dressed, packing up all his Quidditch gear and returned to his dormitory. Albus took out a sheet of parchment and a quill and began writing a letter to his father.

A/N: Until further notice, updates will take place every two weeks.